Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-22
MEXICAN D0MESFICITY. :
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF
TYPICAL CAS-.
Some Strange Customs OF. Moorish
Origin Which Smack of the
Arabian Nights.
Especial Correspondence REooRD-UMOs.I


GUADALAJARA (Mexico), January y, 1887.
I wish I could paint you picture of this
casa, which for many weeks has been my
home. 1t is a typical mansion of the well
TODD Mexican, bull; at least two centuries
ago, its adobe wGlls-three feet thick
looking capable of defying wind and
weather till the resurrection morning. At
ter the manner of all Mexican houses, it
is of Moorish architecture, built around a
central court, or patio, with which every
one of its numberless rooms commune
Gates.
The pqtio-a large, unroofed space. which
is far more to the family than the usual
" front yard" of the North, because as Sc
cure from the public gaze as any room in
the house-is a charming place. Though
the court is always paved with small, sharp
stones-walking upon which makes one
feel like a peniteutial pilgrim on the road
to Mecca-fgs, bananas and pomegranates
are iourishing within it PLANTED in huge
green painted tubs, and flowers bloom in
boxes the whole year through. Roses,
trained like vines against the walls, are
Haunting their choicest blossoms in the
golden sunshine of these perfect days,
making US doubt that il can be midwinter
with you at the North
In the center of the patio is the inevita-
bic fountain, its adobe framework fringed
with ferns and oyergrown with litchens.
HEDGE OF TALL -GERAN1UMs
Partially screens from view the forever
open door of the kitchen, and that of the
stable beyond several peacocks strut
pompously about, a colony of turtle-doves
Though regarded by the superstitious serv-
ants rs harbingers of evil to the household)
make their home under the caves ana coo
softly from dawn till dark; while an in
describable conglomeralion of children and
chickens, cats, dogs, goats-sometime even
pigs and donkeys-add plenty OF " life to
the picture.
This casa, unlike the majority, has Two
stories, faced inside by arched corridors
surrounding the court, which are literally
lined with flowers. The pavement of the
corridors, both above and below is of the
beautiful Mexican cement, as smooth and
shining as alabaster, of that pinkish tint
called " crushed strawberry" and avn
ings, with broad stripes of pink and white,
are spread upon the sunny side. A man
servant-with inky locks and chocolate
colored complexion, clad in sandals of his
own manufacture, white linen blouse and
breeches, confined at the waist with scar
let sash in which dagger is stuck-shuf-
t1es listlessly about, watering the plants
again and again, or sweeping the courtyard
with broom made OF paim-leaves tied to-
gether
In these galleries are countless birds,
most of them confined iii frail cages of gor-
geously- painted bamboo-canaries, mock
ing birds, black and golden candelares, and
top-knotted cardinals; while several green
and yellow parrots-enormou fellows, of
vicious pTopensities-climb about at will
with beak and claw, calling the servants
by name and occasionally INDUCING in a
torrent of Spanish swear words that
would shame a corSair.
Here the serenity of life is never dis
turbed by harsh voices or loud sounds, nor
is ones perpetual enjoyment of "sweet
idleness broken in upon by any sort of
discord. As a rule the people speak in low
tones, and the
soFT-vOwELED LANGUAGE
Is certainly the most musical under the
sun. No noise is made by the sandaled
feet of the score or more of servants, or by
the dainty slippers of the mistress. No
bell is ever ru about the premises. for
the great front door is furnished with q
ponderous knocker and if one wishes to
summon a servant it is the custom to step
out into the corridor and clap the hands
exactly as Washington Congressman at
tract the attention of pages in the House.
To be sure the horses and mules are
stabbed in portion of the house, under the
arches of this same flower-wreathed corri-
dor; and two or three carriages stand Just
inside the front door, in the passage lead
ing to the patio, which serves as hallway
of the cdsa-but nobody minds those things
in Mexico. Indeed if the horses were
brought into the dining-room-as the dogs
are, and occasionally stray goat or two, or
a flock of sOciable fowls, we would still de-
clare it delightful; for thele is a medieval
flavor about the whole thing-a smack of
the Arabian Nights-altogethe irresistible
near the close of this matter of-fact nine
teenth century
Especially for one wearied with the life
of our northern cities, what more charm
ing existence can the Imagination conceive
than this: TO be awakened in these match
less mornings by servant (who never
kn0cks) bringing to your bedside the dainty
cup of chocolate, with fruit and bread and
later, after a refreshing dip in the adobe
pool in the garden, to swing all day in
hammock of Panama grass too idle TO read
or even to think, watching clear shadows
slauting across the pale-tinted stone facade,
or the play of lights and shades made by
perfumed breezes among festooning vines
overhead and broad-leayed banana trees
below
Sonora s., my hostess, spends most of
her waking hours wandering about these
galleries or
LYING IN HER HAMMOCK
Sometimes with her fingers between the
covers of a book. or with blue-ribboned
guitar at hand, but seldom reading or sing
ing What is she thinking about, | wonder,
during the totally unoccupied hours of
these long, long days-what chnteaur
en- espagae is she building, with eyes fixed
on vacancv-what romances is she weav-
ing? At rare intervals she goes from cage
to cage of her feathered pets, her dark eyes
lighting gloriously whenever one of the
tiny prisoners recognizes her by an answer
ing chirp, and when her especial favorite
named Don Fernando, the biggest and
ugliest of all the parrots, nearly amputates
one of the servants toeslwith his vicious bill,
or commits some other diabolical deed,
she gently chides him with her soft voice,
beginning always with, "Pariquo, mi gidd "
tiny life), or, -" Don Fernando, mi alma "
(my soul) The senorita is childless,
which is considered great misfortune. if
not fault in Mexico-the one wee BARN
of the household having died in its puny
Infancy, and perhaps her istless melan-
choly may IN a measure be attributed to
that unhappiness.
The room in this casa which is my own
especial sanctum, is Oriental enough for
any Caliph or Pasha to occupy. Its mas
sive door, deliberately carved by hands that
have been dust these many years was
never spoiled by paint or varnish, is gar
nished with enormous iron hinges and sta
Piles like the fastenings of barn, and
opens, of course, into the upper corridor
facing the court. The one wide window
overlooking the street is indeed :" a joy for
ever the soft gray of its wooden bars lin
lieu CT the usual iron ones enlivened by
the scarlet blossoms of q clambering vine,
while its deep ledge serves me well for
bookcase, writing-desk and curiosity-shop
IN general. There are